Feinstein had
sent the letter to the FBI on Thursday after having kept its
content secret, even from fellow Democrats on the Senate
Judiciary Committee. It detailed an allegation against Kavanaugh
while he was a teenager in the Washington, DC, area.

While the letter itself was known of publicly for several days,
The New Yorker revealed what
it said. The author of the letter, an unidentified woman, claims
that while at a high-school party as teenagers, Kavanaugh pinned
the woman down and forced himself on her. The woman claims that a
male friend of Kavanaugh's turned up music volume in the room to
drown out any noise, according to The New Yorker.

Kavanaugh denied the allegation in a statement, and a classmate
of his told The New Yorker he had "no recollection" of it
occurring.

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"I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation,"
Kavanaugh said. "I did not do this back in high school or at any
time."

Feinstein had previously withheld the letter after receiving it
from California Rep. Anna Eshoo, concealing its contents from
other members of the committee, including Democrats.

After Feinstein briefed Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, she
sent the letter to federal investigators and publicly
acknowledged doing so in a statement. The FBI then added the
letter to Kavanaugh's background file.

The White House condemned the secrecy of the letter as a last
ditch attempt to derail Kavanaugh's nomination.

"Throughout 25 years of public service, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation has thoroughly and repeatedly vetted Judge
Kavanaugh, dating back to 1993, for some of the most highly
sensitive roles. He has served in the Office of Independent
Counsel, the White House, and on the D.C. Circuit Court of
Appeals, all before his nomination earlier this year to serve as
Associate Justice on the Supreme Court," White House spokeswoman
Kerri Kupec said on Thursday.

"Senator Schumer promised to 'oppose Judge Kavanaugh's nomination
with everything I have,' and it appears he is delivering with
this 11th-hour attempt to delay his confirmation," Kupec said.

Later on Friday, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley
announced that the committee would be holding its procedural vote
to advance Kavanaugh out of the committee. A full confirmation
vote is expected in October.